7 Comments until now.

I don’t know if he’s mad, just disappointed (which, as we all know, is the worst thing you could ever hear from your parents).

The main thing that lets me down about this generation of stars is that they’re not really interested in challenges and fighting each other, they all just want to get a ring because they think every superstar deserves one – there’s no interest in the competition to win, just the “win”.

Today there’s nothing in terms of a Lakers/Magic vs Celtics/Bird rivalry, Jordan and the Bulls fighting the Pistons, or Hakeem taking a rag-tag team to the title. No one wants to be Jordan in 89 or Hakeem in 93, they want a shortcut to be Jordan in 96 and Hakeem in 95 as if it’s their right of passage.

Instead we get Kobe demanding a trade (after forcing Shaq out because he wanted more shots, then demanding the team trades its young center for a washed-up Jason Kidd because he needed more help – hilarity), LeBron teaming up with a rival because “it’s going to be easy” and Dwight opting IN to his contract extension then immediately demanding a trade. IDIOT.

(BTW yes I know Magic played with Kareem, Jordan was an asshole, etc. Magic also won Finals MVP as a rookie and Jordan’s asshole-ness was more a filter to get rid of guys who weren’t tough enough to play with him and elevate the ones who were. The demands of Kobe’s ego drove away a three-time Finals MVP… but it also got rid of Kwame Brown too, so maybe that balances it out.)

Probably should note the GMs deserve some of the blame here too. But they should also GM with the outlook to improve the team, not appease their star player (something Jerry Krause did pretty well – Jordan hated him for it, but he did give up a great supporting cast. Danny Ferry signed players like Larry Hughes because LeBron wanted them there, and look how that turned out.)

Well said, Leon. But essentially my gripe is just how these guys handle it. I don’t have a problem with stars teaming up, in fact I like it, but I don’t understand why they bare-faced lie about their intentions and are so dishonest throughout the process (I’m referring to Dwight and Melo). Just be honest, in a tactful way, and people will understand and respect the decision. Lie/deny/whine and you will get killed for it, and rightfully so. You think they would have worked that out by now.

I find it interesting that just like what happened with LeBron after ‘The Decision’, for some strange reason people are now dissing him as a player. I think he’s a chump after all this but the guy is a top three player in this league and regardless of some of their short comings, the Lakers are now scary good with him. Remember, Howard single handedly made Orlando a contender for years (the same way LBJ did in Clev) with a subpar roster. He now has 3 guys on his team who are better than any other player he has played with before. Three!! I’m not predicting titles yet but boy, does Miami (and OKC) have a legit challenger to face now. Can’t wait!

I don’t like the teaming up but understand it (if asked any of us were asked to work for a supercompany I don’t think we’d say no), but yeah the way players go about getting themselves out of their situations – I was going to say “terrible situations” until I remembered Melo wanted to leave a solid team built 100 percent around him to go to the New York Dolans – is crazy. I don’t remember Barkley getting himself out of Philly being anything like this (that might be my old memory getting hazy though, hah).

Barkley did demand a trade, but the Sixers were a lousy team other than him – they missed the post-season a few times even with him fit and playing well. They got AI within a couple of years with the No.1 pick.

Melo and Dwight both left teams that were consistently in the playoffs with them and had some kind of talent. Problem is that these guys don’t want to work a little harder to become title contenders when they can just team up and do it easy.

I have a feeling that the latest crop of stars (Durant, Rose, Griffin) may be a bit more old-school though.